India, Myanmar likely to set up four Border Haats

The success of the Border Haats with Bangladesh has prompted other northeastern states of India to go for similar arrangements with Myanmar. At the instance of the Mizoram government, the Centre is likely to set up four Border Haats (market) along the border with Myanmar to boost local trade and livelihood of the people living there.

To carry out border trade with Myanmar, the location for the construction of Border Haat has been identified in four places -- Hnahlan, Zote, Vaphai (Saikhumphai) and Sangau (Pangkhua) in southeastern Mizoram, Mizoram Commerce and Industries Minister R. Lalthangliana told .

The Minister said, "The success of the Border Haats running along the Bangladesh border in Meghalaya and Tripura has prompted us to go for similar haats with Mynmar in Mizoram.

Mizoram Commerce and Industries Department Director J. Hmingthanmawia said that the state government has sent the detailed proposals in this regard to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for its approval.

Once we get the green signal from the MEA, we would seek funds from the Union Industries and Commerce Ministry,Hmingthanmawia told . He said that officials of the Mizoram government and Myanmar have recently conducted a joint survey and identified the locations to set up the Border Haats.

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga in his Independence Day speech had said that the proposed Border Haats would become important trade points between India and Myanmar.